RECAP: 12-11 OT win over Bayhawks gives Nationals co-lead of first place

Midfielder Jordan Hall scored at 1:55 of overtime to give the Hamilton Nationals a 12-11 victory over the Chesapeake Bayhawks in Annapolis, Md. on Saturday night. Hamilton continued its franchise-best start by winning its fifth straight game to move back into a tie for first place with the Denver Outlaws.

Stephen Keogh led the Nationals with a career-high five goals with Kevin Cunningham contributing five helpers. Matt Mackrides led the Bayhwaks with three goals and one assist.

After an evenly matched first quarter (5-5), the Nationals took the lead in the second with Keogh and Brodie Merrill putting the visitors up by two and Kyle Dixon firing a rocket from just inside the two-point arc to pull one back and set the tone for the second half.

The second half saw the teams go back and forth with Joe Walters and Keogh responding to tallies by Mackrides and John Grant Jr. before Kevin Crowley added an insurance tally going into the final period.

Mackrides added two more in the fourth to tie the game but Hall gave the Nationals the advantage only to see it quashed by a well-placed Matt Abbott goal to tie the game and force overtime.

Two minutes into overtime Hall would find his second of the night to give the Bayhawks their second consecutive OT loss and extended the Nationals streak to five going into the first-place showdown against Denver next week.

Notes:

Nationals’ Kevin Crowley broke the franchise record for consecutive games with a point extending his streak to 20.

Bayhawks’ attackman Ben Rubeor extended his streak of consecutive games with a point to 34.

With the win, the Nationals extend their best season start in franchise history to five games

Jordan Hall’s two goals were is first of 2013. Hall also scored his first gamewinner since 2011

The Bayhawks travel to New York City to face the Lizards at Carl Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, Thursday, June 6 at 7 p.m. ina game televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.

The Nationals will face the Denver Outlaws in a battle for first place from Sports Authority Field at Mile High, on Saturday, June 8, at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the League’s YouTube channel Youtube.com/MLL